Belladrum Tartan Heart announce new stage

A dance DJ stage formed out of the ruins of an historic old mansion house has been added to the five music stages already on offer at next month's Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival.

Called 'Mother's Ruin', the stage will feature dance music until 11pm, after which it will switch to DJ'd ambient soundtrack with supporting VJ graphics from Evanton-based Arts In Motion.

Grants from EventScotland and Highland Council have enabled the stage to be created from what were the last remaining ruins of Belladrum House whose old footprint forms part of the festival site. The rest of the house was pulled down in 1957 by the grandfather of the festival co-promoter Joe Gibbs.

Previously, the ruins had been closed off from festival use due to the danger of the structure. Now they have been consolidated by Ullapool stonemason Craig Neate – brother of well-known musician Andy Neate – into a beautiful structure that will form an integral part of the festival.

Performing on the stage will be acts including Dolphin Boy, Technocelt, Alex Tronic, Araya, Esko, Robbie Dunsmore, Plexus, Butterscotch, Joystick Discotheque, Look Mum It's The DJs, Colin Gregory, and Frog Goes ERP.

The stage will also form a focus for BellaArt – a series of installations by Arts In Motion including; Ullapool artist James Hawkins doing a 'live' projected painting; Caroline Bury painting instant portraits; Colin Bury creating art out of natural forms; and Andrew Ward exhibiting six of his giant 'Bards' series of paintings; in addition, Alain Pezzard will be creating a mud sculpture during the course of the festival.

Festival co-promoter Joe Gibbs said, "Mother's Ruin makes a great addition to what we offer. The renovation of the ruins has produced an incredibly dramatic dance stage unique to any festival in Scotland and probably in the UK, and also a great space for focusing on visual and projected arts. Our younger audience will love the addition of a proper dance stage and everyone will enjoy the arts element."

Also performing at the festival will be Headphone Disco between 9.30pm and 1.30am in Madame Fifi's Dance Parlour on both nights.

The line-up for Belladrum is headlined by Editors, and Ocean Colour Scene, plus there's a raft of other acts including Glenn Tilbrook & the Fluffers, The Saw Doctors, Shed Seven, British Sea Power, Seth Lakeman, Alabama 3 (acoustic & unplugged), Transglobal Underground, Sons and Daughters, Peatbog Faeries, Lau, Toploader, Dananananaykroyd, The Treacherous Orchestra, Tommy Reilly, DeVotchka, The Phantom Band, 3 Daft Monkeys, Edward II, The Wallbirds, Kid Carpet, Sam Isaac, The Lost Brothers, Scooty And The Skyhooks, and more.

For the line-up details, day and stage splits as available please click here.

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival will take place at Belladrum Estate, by Beauly, Inverness-shire on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August 2009.

Weekend tickets are priced at £80 with adult Saturday tickets priced at £50 (plus postage and booking fees) and children 12 and under can attend for free.

To buy tickets, click here.

Belladrum offers plenty of interest aside from the music, including an array of entertainment for children. Attractions include street theatre, cabaret, cinema, dance, alternative therapies, stalls, food and drink.

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